_"You can't hide from your past forever, Susan."_ That’s what my stepmother, Jessica, sneered at me six years ago before sending me off with nothing but a fake ticket to America and a shattered heart. I had always been the perfect daughter, but one scandalous photo ruined everything. Betrayed by my own family, abandoned by the man I loved, I was left with nothing but a broken heart and a daughter to protect. Now, I’m back, and I’m not the same naive girl they tried to destroy. I’ve fought my way to the top, and I’m ready to reclaim what’s mine. _"You’re the one with everything to lose, Jessica. Let’s see how you handle it."_ With my daughter by my side and secrets in my arsenal, I’m ready to face the family that betrayed me. But when Ryan, a man with his own dark past, steps into my life, things get even more complicated. He’s powerful, infuriatingly arrogant, and claims to be the father of my child. _"You think you can just walk back into my life and call the shots, Ryan? Think again."_ This isn’t just about revenge anymore. It’s about survival, about protecting my daughter. _"This time, I’m playing by my own rules."_ But with enemies closing in and the stakes higher than ever, I’ll need more than just determination to win. I’ll need to decide who I can trust—and whether my heart is ready to take the ultimate risk. _"Are you with me, or against me, Ryan?"_ This is my story, and it’s time to take back what was stolen from me. But in the world of power and betrayal, nothing is ever as simple as it seems.
View More7RyanAs I sat in my office, reviewing the latest financial reports, the intercom on my desk buzzed. I ignored it at first, engrossed in the numbers that dictated the future of my company. But when it buzzed a second time, more insistent, I frowned and pressed the button.“What is it, Gina?” I asked, my voice clipped.“Mr. Ray,” she began, her tone hesitant, which was unusual for my usually unflappable assistant. “There’s a young girl here in the lobby… she says she’s your daughter.”I leaned back in my chair, the words hanging in the air like an absurd joke. “My daughter?” I repeated, a skeptical edge to my voice. “What’s this girl’s name?”“She says her name is Mia. She’s quite adamant that you’ll want to see her.”I felt a muscle in my jaw tick as I considered the situation. This had to be some kind of mistake or, worse, a ploy by someone trying to get close to me. But Gina wasn’t one to be easily fooled. If she thought there was something to this, it was worth at least investigat
6Mia's POVAs Mommy knelt in front of me, she tucked a stray curl behind my ear, her fingers lingering on my cheek. “Be a good girl today, Mia,” she said softly, her eyes filled with a mix of love and worry. I could tell she was trying to be strong for me, just like I was trying to be strong for her. She kissed my forehead and gave me one last squeeze before standing up.“Don’t worry, Mommy,” I replied with a smile that I hoped looked reassuring. “I’ll be just fine.” I watched as she walked back to the car, her gaze lingering on me until I disappeared into the kindergarten building. I knew she was concerned, but I didn’t want her to be. I wanted to show her that I could handle things, that I could be just as strong as she was.Once inside the classroom, my thoughts drifted back to the plan I’d been forming ever since I overheard Mommy and Auntie Sarah talking about Ryan Ray.Ryan Ray. Daddy. My heart fluttered at the thought. Could he really be my dad? Mommy never talked about him
5Susan's POVAs I stormed out of the building, my mind raced with frustration. How dare he invade my personal life and make such presumptions? I felt a wave of relief when I finally stepped outside, the cool night air hitting my face.I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I had to stay focused on the task at hand—reclaiming what was rightfully mine and standing up to those who had wronged me. Ryan Ray’s unprofessionalism was just another obstacle to overcome.As I walked briskly to where my car was, I could still feel the sting of Ryan’s invasive questions. But I pushed the feelings aside, channeling my anger into determination. I was not going to let anyone, not even someone as influential as Ryan Ray, derail my plans.As I sank into the backseat of the car, my anger was palpable. My hands shook uncontrollably as I gripped my purse, the encounter with Ryan Ray replaying in my mind. His arrogance, his intrusion into my personal life—it all made me want to scream. I could fee
4Susan's POVHis handshake was firm, and his eyes were sharp, as if he was dissecting every detail about me. I forced a polite smile, trying to mask my unease. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Ray.”“Please, call me Ryan.” He gestured to a nearby seating area, and we took our seats. His gaze never wavered, and I could feel the weight of his scrutiny."So we meet again," Ryan said, his eyes narrowing as he studied me. "Tell me, who are you really?"I arched a brow, mustering as much confidence as I could. "My name is Susan Davidson. I believe you already know that."Ryan leaned forward slightly, his posture still imposing even in his seat. I resisted the urge to lean back, holding his icy stare. "Don't play games with me. I know you're hiding something," he hissed.My hands grew clammy as I remembered our strange encounter on the plane. What did he want from me? Anger and irritation bubbled up inside me. I had no time for his mind games."I have nothing to hide," I replied coolly. "Now if you'l
3Susan's POVMy daughter eagerly took the front passenger seat to guide us. Her confidence amazed me—how she could stay so calm and focused in such a chaotic moment was beyond me. I settled in the back with Lily, trying to calm my racing thoughts.As we navigated the streets of Los Angeles, I couldn’t help but think back to the man on the plane. Who was he? Why did he have that photo? And most importantly, what did he want from me? The questions gnawed at me, but I forced myself to focus on the task at hand—stopping Emily and Jessica.My daughter’s voice broke through my thoughts. “Turn left here, Auntie Sarah!” she directed, her small finger pointing at the map. Sarah followed her instructions without hesitation, the car weaving through the less crowded back roads.My hands trembled slightly as I applied the last touches of mascara. I took a deep breath, glancing at my reflection in the car mirror. Gone was the scared, broken girl from six years ago. I had transformed myself—physica
Chapter 2:Susan's POV"Aaah!" I woke up with a start, my heart racing, and a cold sweat trickling down my neck. For a moment, I thought I was still at the airport, watching Emily and John walk away. But as I blinked, I realized I was in my bed, safe and sound."Mommy?" my daughter stirred beside me, her tiny voice filled with concern."I'm okay, sweetie," I whispered, trying to calm my racing heart. "Just a bad dream."My daughter sat up, rubbing her eyes. "What happened, Mommy?"I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "Just memories from a long time ago," I said finally.My daughter looked at me with big, curious eyes. "What memories?"I took a deep breath, trying to summarize the pain and betrayal I had felt. "People I trusted hurt me, sweetie. They said and did things that made me feel small and alone."My daughter's face scrunched up in concern. "But why, Mommy?"I sighed, feeling a lump form in my throat. "Sometimes people do bad things because they're hurt or scared themselves.
Chapter 1: The BetrayalSusan's POVI was sitting in my room, scrolling through my phone, when the door burst open. Emily and Jessica, my stepsister and stepmother, marched in, their faces twisted with anger. My heart skipped a beat. "What's going on?" I asked, my voice trembling.Emily shoved a photo in my face. I gasped, my hands shaking as I looked at the blurry, dark picture. It showed me in a bad situation with a man whose face was hidden. I could hardly breathe.How had this happened? I had never been involved in anything scandalous before. My life had been one of quiet obedience, always doing what was expected of me. This photo was a nightmare made real."Care to explain this, Susan?" Emily sneered, her eyes cold and mocking.I felt a lump in my throat. "I... I don't know how this happened," I stammered. "I swear, I didn't do anything.""You're such a disgrace, Susan," Emily spat, her voice dripping with contempt. My stepsister’s perfect features twisted in a cruel smirk. "How
Chapter 1: The BetrayalSusan's POVI was sitting in my room, scrolling through my phone, when the door burst open. Emily and Jessica, my stepsister and stepmother, marched in, their faces twisted with anger. My heart skipped a beat. "What's going on?" I asked, my voice trembling.Emily shoved a photo in my face. I gasped, my hands shaking as I looked at the blurry, dark picture. It showed me in a bad situation with a man whose face was hidden. I could hardly breathe.How had this happened? I had never been involved in anything scandalous before. My life had been one of quiet obedience, always doing what was expected of me. This photo was a nightmare made real."Care to explain this, Susan?" Emily sneered, her eyes cold and mocking.I felt a lump in my throat. "I... I don't know how this happened," I stammered. "I swear, I didn't do anything.""You're such a disgrace, Susan," Emily spat, her voice dripping with contempt. My stepsister’s perfect features twisted in a cruel smirk. "How ...
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